Direct Oslo-Gothenburg rail link planned

Norway and Sweden are launching an investigation into a direct train link between Oslo and Gothenburg. The fast rail connection would rapidly speed up the transport of passengers and cargo between the two Nordic hubs.

The agreement was signed at a meeting between Norway’s Ministry of Transport and Communications and Sweden’s Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications last week.

“We have to see what priority to look into, what kind of railway project will be envisioned, how it can be done and how the railway between Norway and Sweden can be better connected,” John-Ragnar Aarseth, the Norwegian ministry’s state secretary told the country’s broadcasting company NRK.

He sees the completion of a double-track railway from Oslo to the Norwegian town of Halden as one of the priorities. It is scheduled to be finished in 2030.

Ola Elvestuen, assistant chairman of Norway’s Left Wing Party went further: “It is absolutely critical we put effort into a railway between Oslo and Gothenburg, and towards Copenhagen and Hamburg as well.”

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